Facing the Truth

The key truths that people must seek out are those elements of self that define them as individuals—who they really, truly, finally and irrevocably are, deep inside. And in order to do that, they must rid themselves of illusions about all manner of forces that have distracted them and made them afraid, including traumatic experiences from childhood that made them worry about how punishing the world can be, as well as relationships with others who convinced them to abandon their deeply held beliefs or interests.

They must, essentially, reawaken some of what they were born with—the God-given, inexplicable, ultimately undefeatable capacity to move in the direction of their own, unique interests, abilities, beliefs and dreams.

This is why the image of Christ on the cross is such a powerful one.
...
Christ doesn’t give up his core self for anything.

He doesn’t surrender it even when he is in terrible pain on the cross, wondering if he is totally alone.

He doesn’t pretend that those who have hated him for his beliefs are his friends.

He doesn’t fool himself into thinking that they love him.

He doesn’t down three scotches because of the gathering storm that will take his life.

He doesn’t eat himself into oblivion.

He doesn’t change his appearance at the plastic surgeon’s office in order to avoid his persecutors or reality.

He doesn’t inject himself with heroin to kill the pain in his hands.

He doesn’t Tweet nonsense about his daily routine to people who say they’ll follow him when they really won’t and never intended to, anyhow.

He doesn’t even let hatred for his oppressors, in the final moments of his life on earth, cloud his vision of who he is and why he has come here.

This is precisely what is required of people who really want to find themselves. Because the way we lose ourselves is by turning away from realities that seemed too painful to bear as we grew up: people who insisted we abandon our feelings, our sense of right and wrong, our talents, our opinions, our most heartfelt goals, our likes and dislikes, our hopes for unconditional love.

This giving up of self is what causes all the suffering. It causes us to be depressed. It causes us to be anxious and panic. It causes us to seek all manner of self-defeating distraction. It even causes us to hear voices and see visions generated by our own thoughts boomeranging back to us as hallucinations because we have denied them an audience in our conscience minds. They’re too threatening, so we disown them, and then they own us.

The fact that Christ is resurrected is a powerful fact for anyone seeking to restore themselves to well-being—to life. Because in order to achieve a spiritual or psychological rebirth, you must be willing to abandon all the psychological defenses that have kept you from seeing your life story for what it has been. That is including the fact that some people you very much hoped would love you did not love you. That your hopes that the world would be predictable were dashed by unexpected losses. That you followed paths that felt easier when your real path would have been truer, but much harder, and that you are mortal and will have to say goodbye to everything and everyone you truly love, which should only immeasurably enhance your very love of those things and those people.

You have to be willing to die to live.

Dr. Keith Ablow

Lil F***er got me last night > - l

Damn little rat bas***d.  Bit so deep in my finger that he was just hanging there.  #^%*&
Yes...he's still alive...I didn't kill him.  Blood everywhere though.  Fang is out...Lil F***er is in! 

Chuckles and Fang

Ok...I have discussed my husband Erik, my dog Loki and my cat Jessie.  Now it's the gerbils turn.

I got my gerbils before I got Loki.  Why?  Because I wanted a dog.  Erik wouldn't let me get a dog, so I got gerbils.  (Prior to this...it was fish...long story...maybe some other time).  S'anyway...my dear little gerbils.  One is named Chuckles...he is a sandy brown adorable little gerbil who got the name Chuckles because he would run as fast as he could in the wheel then stop running.  The wheel continued to rock and he would sit there I swear 'chuckling'.  Chuckles he was. 

Fang on the other hand....he's the black gerbil.  Let's see if you can guess how I came up with that name?  Hmmm...well let's see...it was either Fang or Lil F***er....(I even considered Lil Bas***d but didn't think it was fair to his mother since I didn't know her and didn't want to judge).  I finally decided on Fang since I knew with all my nieces and nephews coming by and visiting, they might ask me their names and I didn't think Lil F***er was appropriate.  Fang he was. 

This is Chuckles

This is Fang.

I've had Chuckles and Fang for a little over 2 years.  They have a 2-5 year life expectancy and so far they're both hanging in there just fine.  In all fairness...Fang has become a little more mellow when it comes to biting.  Now he just nibbles.  No blood involved.  He still fights me when I try to pick him up, but I'm a lot more stubborn (and bigger) than him.  I WILL win!  Chuckles on the other hand...he's my little bubby...he's the sweetheart of the two.  It's a total joy to watch him play. 

Something new just recently happened and I felt the need to write about it.  These two have lived together in total happiness with each other all this time.  One day, I noticed that they were each sleeping on opposite ends of the tank.   (I chose a tank over a cage...much easier to keep the area around it clean).  That has NEVER happened.  They have always slept together in a little cave that they make each time I clean out the tank.  Now, if Chuckles went anywhere near Fang, Fang would start chasing him and Chuckles would go flying across the tank.  What the hell?!?!?!  So I did some research.  Not to get into too much lengthy detail...what is going on is Fang is de-clanning Chuckles.  I had to separate them or Fang would most likely kill Chuckles.  This apparently is quite common. 

They actually suggest getting a couple of 'pups' and put one in with each gerbil and they won't get lonely.   Ummmm....let's see....so...I get 2 more gerbils and put one in each tank with each gerbil.  So when they eventually de-clan, I'll go from 4 gerbils to what...8 gerbils!?!??!?!?!  REALLY?!?!??!?!  No...just ain't happenin!  It was also suggested to get a couple of females.  Ok...let's think about that.  Female gerbils can have 7 babies at a time...several times a year.  I could have hundreds of gerbils by the end of the year.  Uh....I'm afraid I'm gonna have a couple of lonely gerbils.  I try to give them as much attention as I can, but they just ain't gettin no company.  (I did try putting Chuckles back in with Fang after a day or so, but when Chuckles went flying across the tank again, I thought better of it). 

Now what I find is the funny part...apparently, they each had a specific job to do when building their 'sleeping quarters'.  Fang chewed everything up and Chuckles put the 'cave' together.  I never really thought much of it till I separated them.  Now, it's just too funny.  I look in each tank and Fang has his stuff all chewed up but not really what you would call a home...it was kind of scattered.  Chuckles paper and stuff was still all in one piece but put together (although kinda lookin like a worn down shack) into a little cave. 

                                          This is Fang's home.

                                          This is Chuckles home.

Animals are such funny little creatures.  They each have their own little personalities and they really are such a joy to watch.  Dogs, cats, gerbils...even fish. 
All creatures great and small, God made them all. 

Beautiful day!

It's Saturday morning and we woke up to the sun shining.  We opened all the blinds in the RV and the sky is blue and it's gorgeous outside.  We're gonna go for a long walk later.  Erik fixed all the leaky problems yesterday and we can finally relax.

Yesterday we went to this RV place to get the part he needed (J & J RV).  Nice people...huge dealership!  It was cold and gray yesterday and I had doubled up with a sweatshirt and jacket cause it was pretty windy too.  I went in with Erik to just look around a little.  Seeing nothing of interest I asked him for the keys so I could sit out in the warm car with the dog while he finished up.  He looked at me funny and says 'but I want to go look at some of the RV's'...I'm like 'huh?!?...why???'  He says 'we're here to have fun aren't we?'  Once again... 'huh?!?!?'  His idea of fun and my idea of fun are two totally different things. 

Sooooooo....we finish up and walk out to the lot.  I think I mentioned that this place was HUGE...I'm not exagerating (sp?).  We walk and he's stopping to take pictures of all the older RV's while I'm shivering behind him.  We get to this one that he had seen on the website and he is excitedly walking around it snapping pictures while I'm standing between two RV's trying to keep the wind from blowing me away.  (I'm a big girl so it tells u how windy it would have to be to blow me away).  He tells me to go back to the car and wait and he'll meet me there later.  So without further ado, I shivered my way back to the car. 

It was quite a walk so I decided I would just take the car and pick him up and we could just drive from RV to RV.  I drive back to the spot he was at and he's no longer there.  So I continue driving around for a good five minutes with no luck.  I finally see him back up near the building and he looks exasperated.  I open the car door so he can take over the driving and his eyes are practically bulging out of the sockets.  He says 'didn't u see me behind you running and waving my hands?  I was yelling and you just kept going....you turned the corner and I run to meet you and you turned the next corner.  Don't you ever look in your rearview mirror?'  He wasn't yelling, just speaking AT me.  lol! 

So anyway, he takes over the driving and we go from RV to RV while he takes pictures.  Neither one of us realized how big this place was, it just kept going and going.  They had all these really old RV's that Erik was just fascinated with.  I'm not saying they weren't interesting, but I just didn't see the big deal.  We FINALLY get done and then he decides he wants to see them from the other side of the fence (there was like a little frontage road outside of the dealership that on the other side of it was a huge vehicle dump.  Now THAT was fascinating.  All the trucks and cars that were left there to die.  :-(  It was almost sad to look at.  I told Erik that at least they have friends to hang with...I know, I'm pathetic, but it's me).  So, while he's looking at the RV's from the backside, I'm looking at the vehicle dump.  We get done there and head back to the campsite.  We've had our 'fun' for the day.  :-)

When we got back, while Erik worked on the water pipe, I took Loki over to the field and let her run.  The sky was looking pretty nasty and the wind was really picking up.  I was actually starting to keep an eye out for funnel clouds.  It rained a little, but nothing serious.  It's supposed to storm tonight...hail and everything, but we're going to enjoy today as much as possible before that starts up.

Take care everyone and God bless!

the next day.....

Well, I don't want to jinx anything, but so far so good.  Erik got the hot water heater going with only a few drips.  Yea...shower time!!  We'll head to the store later to get the correct parts. 

It's nice to just sit and relax now.  Loki has calmed down, Erik has calmed down, all is well in the Andersen RV saga.  :-) 

oh...it's raining.  lol! 

sigh...here we go again :-(

Well...our day went real well all day today, till we got to the campground.  Then all hell broke loose.  I think Erik has about come to his wits end.  We have put out so much time and money into this RV and we know that you have to expect problems on occasion, especially with a used RV, but we thought we had all the kinks and problems worked out.  Last year it was one problem after another with the outside of the rig.  Now the inside has decided to fall apart.  This is what happened when we went to set up:

Erik hooked up the sewer, electric and water.  He found out that the place that winterized the RV had disconnected the water pump and left it running so it's burned out.  After some severe swearing, he calmed down and said it's going to cost a couple hundred dollars, but we can get thru the weekend without it.  Okay...so he does the water heater bypass thing, turns the water on and water comes pouring thru a broken pipe.  Apparently, when it was winterized, there was still water in the pipes and it blew a pipe.  By this time it was 8:30 and the only place open that had a chance of having the part we needed was Farm and Fleet and they closed at 9pm.  Keep in mind, we hadn't had dinner yet.  Erik is a diabetic and he's starting to totally lose it.  So, we run to Farm and Fleet and they don't have the right part, but with help from a wonderful manager, they were able to jeri-rig the part.  (it's temporary, but will get us thru tonight).  There was a restaurant on the way back that we figured we'd just run in and grab something and head back.  The place was closed.  Sooooo, we see a Casey's general store/gas station and go in and get some food.  Not very good food, but food.  Oh...and some booze.  It was needed.  We get back here and finally eat (we hadn't eaten since breakfast and were both getting VERY ummm moody).  It's 9:30pm.  So after numerous times of "ok turn on the water...SHUT IT OFF, SHUT IT OFF!!!", Erik finally gets the piece to work with just a slight dribble.  We're good for now, just can't use the hot water.  (Who needs a shower?!?).  Tomorrow, we'll head to one of the RV dealerships and get the correct part and hopefully things will go smoother.  Happy Birthday Erik...hopefully tomorrow will go better. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUBBY!!!

My man is in seventh heaven right now.  0 days, 0 hours, 0 minutes.  We're loading up the RV and heading out.  He's all scatterbrained (more than usual)  ;-)   cause he's trying to do 10 things at once.  He's like...vibrating.  lol!! 

Looking forward to the trip.  It's only a few hours away, but it's a nice place and we'll be hangin together.  No work.  Just rest.  I need it, but he needs it more. 

Loki on the other hand...doesn't like to ride in the RV.  She doesn't mind when it's parked, but hates the ride.  I have to give her a valium before we go or she'll shake herself to death.  Weird dog!  So, she's just chillin right now.  Erik is filling up the gas tank then we're outta here.

Talk at ya later....

P.S.  If ya want to, click over to eriksrantz.blogspot.com and wish him a Happy Birthday.  He's a grand ole 47 today.  :-)

Joke of the day!!

Working people frequently ask retired people what
they do to make their days interesting.
Well, for example, the other day, Mary my wife and I
went into town and visited a shop.

When we came out, there was a cop writing out a parking ticket.

We went up to him and I said, 'Come on, man,
how about giving a senior citizen a break?'
He ignored us and continued writing the ticket.
I called him an “asshole” . He glared at me and started
writing another ticket for having worn-out tires.

So Mary called him a “shit head”.  He finished the
second ticket and put it on the windshield with the first.
Then he started writing more tickets.
This went on for about 20 minutes.
The more we abused him, the more tickets he wrote.

Just then our bus arrived, and we got on it
and went home.

We try to have a little fun each day now that we're retired.

 It's important at our age

My husband and I have our morning routines like everyone else.  This morning, when I was getting ready for work, I heard the front door open and close as my husband was leaving.  I finished getting ready, got Loki out of her 'den', turned on the hall light (since hubby turned all the lights off before he left) and headed down the stairs trying not to trip over Jessie who was doing figure 8's around my feet.  (btw...she's doing great and we have all come out of the ordeal only slightly traumatized).  I let Loki outside and I hear a warbling noise.  I looked down and saw Erik's cell phone.  The warbling noise is what it makes whenever he gets an e-mail.  (IT WARBLES CONSTANTLY!).  Anyway, I comment out loud "dude forgot his phone".  I look to see if his coat and shoes were there...nope.  He just forgot his phone.  He might as well have left his left arm behind because his phone is usually attached to it.  Oh well...so while the dog is out, I go look at the temperature in the house and stop in my tracks.  There's my husband sitting there in the dark smiling.  He hadn't left.  He said he was gonna say 'no I didn't' to my comment, but thought better of it.  He was only about 6 feet away but the dog and I walked right past him.  It was a shocker alright.  He got back at me without even trying. 

Let's go back about a year or so, before we got Loki.  I mentioned in my 'about me' thing about how Jessie is Erik's nemisis.  All Erik has to do is look at her and she'll flip out.  He hasn't done anything to her...she's just neurotic.  So, he basically just goes thru the house ignoring her if possible.  One morning after the usual routine, (only I was first done on this morning), I had a few minutes before I had to leave so I sat down with my laptop to check my e-mails.  I hear the door open upstairs and Erik comes out of the bedroom.  I'm hearing something to this effect "hey girl...how ya doin.  Ohhhh...look at you.  come're...u like that...does that feel good...yeah??  (little laugh)...ok, I gotta go girl...I'll see u later".  He comes down the stairs and stops dead when he sees me and the shit-eatin grin on my face.  I KNEW IT!!!!  He loves that damn cat!!!  He starts stuttering and says he knew I was there...HA!  It was the cutest, sweetest thing ever in my mind.  I smiled all day thinking about it. 

So, sitting there in the dark this morning, he got to do the shit-eatin grin while I'm talking to myself unaware he's right there.  Whew...good thing I didn't say 'dipshit' instead of 'dude'.  ;-)      (jk honey) 

God vs Science

God vs Science

 "Let me explain the problem science has with religion." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'

'Yes sir,' the student says.

'So you believe in God?'

'Absolutely '

'Is God good?'  

'Sure! God's good.'

'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'

'Yes'

'Are you good or evil?'

'The Bible says I'm evil.'

 The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible! He considers for a moment. 'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'

'Yes sir, I would.'

'So you're good...!'

'I wouldn't say that.'

'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Can you answer that one?'

The student remains silent. 'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. 'Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?'

'Er..yes,' the student says.

'Is Satan good?'

The student doesn't hesitate on this one.. 'No.'

'Then where does Satan come from?'

The student falters. 'From God'

'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'

'Yes'

'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'

Again, the student has no answer. 'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'

The student squirms on his feet. 'Yes.'

'So who created them ?'

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them?' There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. 'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'

The student's voice betrays him and cracks. 'Yes, professor, I do.'

The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'

'No sir. I've never seen Him.'

'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'

'No, sir, I have not.'

'Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'

'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'

'Yet you still believe in him?'

'Yes'

'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist... What do you say to that, son?'

'Nothing,' the student replies.. 'I only have my faith.'

'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own. 'Professor, is there such thing as heat? '

' Yes.

'And is there such a thing as cold?'

'Yes, son, there's cold too.'

'No sir, there isn't.'

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. 'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit down to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy.. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold.. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.'

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'

'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'

'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester.
'So what point are you making, young man?'

'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed? Can you explain how?'

'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains.. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought.' 'It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.' 'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'

'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do.'

'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.


'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.' The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter. 'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so.. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir.' 'So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers.. 'I Guess you'll have to take them on faith.'

'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues.


'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'


Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it Everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in The multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world.. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'

To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God.. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'

The professor sat down. 

**************************************************************************
My comment:  This has gone around on the internet for quite a while and it was said that Albert Einstein was the student which is not true.  I have no idea who the author of this story is, regardless...I still find it to be a strong argument for faith.  The biggest thing I got out of this is that evil is the absence of God.  If you look at our world now and how the ACLU and atheists have fought to take God out of our life in general, it shows how the absence of God in the lives of people have been slowly turning our world into something that equals evil. 

I know this much from my own experience:  I have been a Christian my entire life and there was a 3-year period that I was so angry at God that I stopped talking to him.  I no longer prayed, I had given up all hope.  My anger overtook me and I became someone that people no longer recognized as Ronda.  It was like I was living in a black hole.  During that time, food became my 'god'.  I gained over 100 pounds.  My mom told me I needed to get help.  I was in such a deep depression that she was scared I would do something stupid.  I went to the doctor and was eventually put on prozac which I still take.  I slowly started crawling out of the hole and started seeing the light again.  I started talking to God and to be honest, I actually feel closer to Him now than I ever have in my life.  During this time, it was apparent that the absence of God was obvious.  He didn't give up on me though, I gave up on Him.  I was empty without Him and this is what is happening in our world.  People are pushing God away and leaving us in a black hole.  There are those of us that refuse to let that happen and we have to stand strong.  Take care and God bless!

Brennan Daigle

Tue Mar 8, 11:38 am ET

Wish comes true for cancer-stricken 10-year-old inducted into Army

By Zachary Roth zachary Roth – Tue Mar 8, 11:38 am ET

Most kids might hope to get an Xbox or an iPod Touch for their 10th birthday. Brennan Daigle got a reception from a formation of soldiers, a ride in a camouflaged National Guard Humvee--and induction as an honorary member of the Army.
Since October 2009, Brennan, from Sulphur, Louisiana, has been battling embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma--a rare form of cancer in which muscular tumors attach themselves to bones, writer Rachel Reischling reports in the Fort Polk Guardian. Last month, doctors told his family there was nothing more they could do, and gave Brennan just weeks to live.
Brennan has always loved the Army.  His mother had created a Facebook page--Brennan's Brigade--to keep family and friends informed of his condition. People from around the world, including soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, have left comments of encouragement and support. One group of soldiers in Afghanistan posted a picture of themselves holding an American flag, and told Brennan: "We're flying this flag in honor of you; we're here to back you. Stay Army strong."
Becky Prejean, who runs a charity for sick kids called Dreams Come True of Louisiana, heard about Brennan's illness, and got in touch with his mother, Kristy Daigle. Brennan's greatest wish, Daigle told Prejean, was to meet some soldiers in person, before his illness worsened. So the two women contacted the Fort Polk Community Relations Office, which put out a call for a few soldiers to attend Brennan's tenth birthday on Feb. 26.
Forty showed up.
Brennan had been told he was going fishing with his father. But when he got out of his dad's truck, he was greeted by a formation of 1st MEB soldiers, standing at attention in front of a National Guard Humvee. After a moment, they all shouted "Happy Birthday, Brennan!," and broke into applause.
Brennan was speechless, according to his mother. "All he could do was giggle," she said.
Brennan and his best friend Kaleb were invited to check out the Humvee, and Brennan sat behind the wheel. Then soldiers took the two boys out for a spin. Afterward, Brennan and Kaleb put their heads out the hatch on the vehicle's roof, while the crowd snapped pictures.
But it wasn't over. Brennan got out of the Humvee and was led to the front of the formation, where he shook hands with each soldier. He was inducted into the Army as an honorary member, then given a coin symbolizing merit and excellence, as well as a military jacket with his name on the pocket, and other Army-themed gifts.
"Brennan, you exemplify what personal courage means," Pfc. Kamesha Starkey, 1st MEB, told him.
Finally, the mayor of Sulphur, La., gave Brennan a key to the city, and the title of Honorary Mayor of the Day.
"Words can never express what I felt seeing all those soldiers there, knowing some of them had just come back from Iraq and still took time out for just one little boy," Kristy Daigle said. "Just to know that they care enough to give their all, to give their love and support to a little boy is phenomenal. It says so much about our men and women who serve our country in the armed forces."
Some of the soldiers said the event helped put things in perspective for them. "It was good to be able to give back," Pfc. Kyle Frederick said. "It opened my eyes to a lot of things: How I take my kids for granted, how lucky we are, how we complain on a day-to-day basis and we really have it good compared to others."
As for Brennan, it took a while for his new honor to sink in. The next day, he asked his mother, "Am I really in the Army?"
"You most certainly are," she answered. "They don't swear in just anyone."
"That's awesome," said Brennan.

Hey...Westboro dumbasses....

Hey! Village Idiots picketing fallen soldiers' funerals....Yeah, I'm talking to you! Do you know WHY you are allowed to do that? BECAUSE THE DEAD SOLDIER YOU ARE DISRESPECTING GAVE HIS OR HER LIFE SO YOU WOULD HAVE THE FREEDOM TO EXPRESS YOUR STUPIDITY!

poor hubby : - {

My poor husband who has trouble sleeping as it is, got pretty much no sleep at all last night.  I kept Jessie in the cage down in the kitchen, but he could hear her mewling and screeching and meowing all night long.  I couldn't hear a thing.  I sleep in what Erik calls a "wind tunnel".  (Unfortunately, we sleep in separate rooms...he has a bad back and I snore).  I have to have a fan blowing in my face all the time and I have to have a window open at night...doesn't matter if it's 30 below...gotta have the window at least cracked. I have a super-duper fan about 3 feet from my face blowing on me at night.  Got another one at work on my desk about a foot away and keep a small one on the arm of my chair in the living room.  It's a 'thing'.  S'anyway, that's why I can't hear anything.  Erik on the other hand has supersonic hearing.  The man can hear a feather drop.  (Unless of course he's on his laptop working or on his blog and I'm sitting right next to him talking away...then he suddenly goes deaf).  > - /
I feel bad for him though...(although I did forewarn him of this).  I'm going to try putting her in the master bathroom tonight.  I'll probably be able to hear her, but it won't bother me like it does him.  Only 13 more days...even the dog has her paws over her ears.  I don't think she got any sleep either.  I on the other hand, slept like a baby....had a few shots of jaeger.  Out cold.  : -) 

Jessie's home : - )

Went and picked Jessie up this afternoon.  Got pulled over for speeding on the way home.  I have somewhat of a lead foot.  Drives Erik crazy, but it is what it is.  Anyhoo...doing 18 mph over the speed limit.  The officer comes to my window, I hand him my license, registration and insurance card and I tell him "you got me".  We discuss the speeding and he looks in and sees Jessie we discuss her a little then he goes back to his squad car.  I had told him it's been about 30 years since I've had a ticket, and he asked me if I wanted one now.  Of course not we both say, but I told him that I'm not going to make up an excuse...I wasn't paying attention, so whatever happens happens.  He comes back to the car and we talk a little more and I told him that in all honesty, the reason I wasn't paying attention was because I hadn't seen my cat in three days and she was meowing non-stop telling me about her time at the kitty hospital and I was responding to her and not paying attention to my speed.  He looked at me and smiled and said... "NOW I'm gonna write you a ticket"...then he laughed and told me to have a good day.  Whew!!! 

So Jessie is home...GOING INSANE!!!  I was able to compromise a little.  I have to keep her in the cage while at work or away from home, and at night while sleeping.  I have the upstairs closed off to her so she can wander around in the three rooms downstairs with us while we're home.  She hasn't sat down for a single second since she got home.  She is wandering from room to room literally meowing NON-STOP. 

I used to work at the College of Medicine and I remember on more than a few occasions having to drop paperwork off in an office on the 5th floor.  I remember walking past a door that had a sign saying "radiation"...I always felt dizzy when I walked past it.  It always felt like the floor was moving.  Really weird.  Never thought too much of it, just thought it was strange.  Years later, I read that some people have a sensitivity to stuff like that.  They can actually feel a difference in a room almost like walking thru an unseen fog.  I thought that was interesting.  Now...maybe it's all in my head, but I had to roll the windows down in the car when bringing Jessie home because I was feeling nauseous.  I have a headache now.  She is supposed to be safe to be around so long as I don't snuggle with her and I wash my hands after petting her.  This has got to be in my head.  I hope so anyway.....  < : -\

I think I'm going to go take a couple shots of jaeger...(I know...any excuse will do).  ; - )

I'm glad she's home though....my baby girl.  I missed her!

All is at peace right now.....

Loki

Hello everyone...my name is Loki.  I am a basenji/shepherd mix and this past week my mom has been telling you about my step-sister Jessie.  Mom has been missing her a lot.  It's only been one day, but if nothing else, it's quiet.  So, anyway, since mom wrote about Jessie, I think it's time you heard about me.
 
I was 6 months old when mom adopted me.  I'm originally from Indiana, but I didn't have a home and someone found me and turned me into doggie jail.  They transferred me to a doggie jail in Illinois and I'm so glad they did, cuz I wouldn't have found my mom otherwise.  I was nothing but skin and bones, you could see my ribs!  I kinda walked with a limp to.  I remember when I first saw my mom.  She was sitting in a chair and one of the "keepers of the jail" brought me in to her.  I looked at her and walked right over and put my head on her lap.  I knew she was going to be my new mom...I just knew it!!  She didn't mind that I was skinny and walked with a limp.  She wanted me anyway.  I love her and I never want to be away from her.  She brought me home and I met my dad and my step-sister Jessie.  (Jessie is a cat but I guess I like her anyway.  I like to pounce at her...she used to be scared of me, but I don't scare her anymore...kinda takes the fun outta pouncing).  Mom had to take me to the vet to see why I was limping...turns out I had a broken pelvis.  Hmmm...I'm thinking it might have been that big car that hit me when I was living on the streets in Indiana.  The vet gave me some pills to take whenever it gets bad, but it's been a year now and has seemed to heal just fine.  The vet said I look really good now.  I only weighed 22 pounds when I met mom and dad, but now I weigh 45 pounds!!  I have lots and lots of friends to.  Mom takes me to daycare everyday.  She can't leave me alone because I get anxiety attacks and can be very destructive.  I don't mean to, but I'm so scared I'm never going to see mom again and I get scared and sometimes angry...but only because I'm scared.  I would never hurt anyone!!  But, I have a tendency to wreak havoc on a house.  I have to take tranquilizers when it gets really bad.  I am smart though.  I'm what is called "an escape artist".  I heard mom and dad talking one day.  They kept building these walls...higher and higher, and I was always able to get out.  They said it was the basenji part of me.  I guess I'm a little odd...I kind of yodel instead of bark.  (Although, I have barked on occasion...that's the german shepherd part of me).  Dad says I sound like a "woman being strangled" and I can get really loud.  Dad had to call the police one day to let them know that there was no one being killed in our house (just in case the neighbors thought so).  I think it sounds beautiful, but apparently I'm the only one.  I'm also a very good dog.  Or at least I try to be.  One time, I had only been with mom for about a month.  We had gone to a store and dad was taking a little longer than we thought he would so mom decided to take me for a short walk in the grass outside of the parking lot.  She opened the car door and I jumped out and took off before she could get the leash on me.  I heard her yell, but I thought it was a game.  I turned around and saw mom laying on the ground.  I don't think that was a game.  I ran back to her and saw her hands bleeding.  I licked her face to make her feel better.  I don't jump out of the car anymore unless I get permission first.  I don't want mom to get hurt anymore. 

Anyway, that's my story.  Jessie will be home in a couple of days and I'm going to try and pounce at her again.  See if she missed me.  :-)  

I should have stayed in bed... >-(

I try very hard to be an optimist.  I have good days and bad days like everyone else, but sometimes, when it's one thing after another, it's extremely difficult to stay positive.
This morning I had to drop Jessie (my cat) off at the RadioCat clinic for the radiation therapy.  I gave myself more than enough time to get ready this morning so I could be out the door by 7am.  I had to be there by 8am and they were very specific on that.  I go out to start my car and there is about a 1/4 inch of ice covering it.  $%^#%@%   So...I wrench open the door and start the car and go back in to get Jessie and Loki.  (Loki goes to daycare because she has severe separation anxiety).  She's not a problem...she's usually waiting at the front door ready to go.  Jessie, on the other hand, knows something is up.  She won't come anywhere near me.  So as I walk thru the house saying "kitty, kitty" she lets me get within inches of her then takes off...she'll go a couple of feet, stop, wait, then take off another couple of feet.  Yes...she was being a total brat.  Afer about 10 mins. of this, I finally get hold of her and she's meowing up a storm.  She's pissed!  She knows she's going in "the box".  I get her in there, grab her, the bag for her, my purse and the dog and run to the car.  Ice is still covering all the windows so I get the scraper out and start scraping.  Jump in the car, it's 7:23.  It's a 40 minute drive and I've lost 23 mins.  Back out of the driveway and slide across the cul-de-sac.  JUST GREAT!!!  I manage to get on the street without killing us and drop Loki at doggie daycare.  Set up my GPS and start out to RadioCat.  It's now 7:30.  According to my GPS it says I'll get there at exactly 8am.  Problem is, no one will go above 15-20 mph.  (understandable of course since everything is iced over...but come on!!!)  I watch as my GPS keeps gaining minutes.  In the meantime...as I'm sitting there stressing out, Jessie is meowing non-stop....it's a very angry meow!  Kind of goes into my eardrums like a spike each time.  My GPS has now reached 8:10.  I try calling RadioCat, but it goes directly to a recording that says they don't open until 9am..leave a message.  My head is going to explode...I just know it!  I try to take deep breaths and calm down.  All I can think of is that I'm going to be late and they're going to say I'm going to have to reschedule (they were so adament on the phone about the time).  I finally get there at 8:10, run in apologizing all over the place and Robyn (the tech)...says, "no problem...I was running late too because of the ice.  Don't worry about it."  :-\    Anyway, all went well and she will keep me informed throughout the week. 
So, I get to work.  I do accounts receivable for a doctor's office.  I've been working on a nightmare check since Thursday.  It's 79 pages long and has to be put in manually (we usually do it electronically).  I've had nothing but problems with it.  I only had about 12 pages left this morning and wanted to get it done and off my desk.  I get to the final patient.  Done!  I don't balance.  I'm off $5.  FIVE DOLLARS!  This is a $178k check with approx. 200 patients.  I have to find $5.00 in this damn thing.  sighhhhhh. 
Well, I just typed this during my lunch so I have to get back to work.  My neck hurts from tension...  :-(   
I know things will get better and I'll find the $5, but right now, I just wish I could go back to bed.

Jessie

My cat Jessie has to go in for radiation therapy on Monday.  She knows something is up because she has become so needy and doesn't want to leave my side.  She's going to be gone for three days and when she comes back I have to basically keep her locked up for two weeks.  That is going to be a nightmare.  Let me give you an example of a Jessie day:

4:30 am....  (mom gets up at 5:15am).  Start patting mom on head till mom turns over.
4:31 am... when mom turns over on side, go to feet and walk up leg to hip.  Sit.
4:45 am...  meow...over and over till mom knocks me off hip.
5:00 am...  sit next to mom's head and stare...every once in a while putting cold nose on mom's warm nose.  wait till mom opens one eye and pushes me away.  (ah ha...we have life!!)
5:15 am...freak out when alarm clock goes off.
5:16 am...trip mom as much as possible walking from bed to bathroom...(can't let her forget I'm here and I want food).
5:16-5:30 am... watch bathroom door and wait for shower to turn off.
5:30-5:45 am... go in bathroom with mom and meow and do figure 8's while she's getting ready....snuggle a little then stare and paw at door.  When door is opened run out then realize mom isn't behind me and run back in as fast as I can so I don't get tail chopped off in door.  (this can be tricky)
5:45 am... watch while she wakes THE MAN.   when he gets up, freak out and run into wall.
5:46 am... FINALLY...FEEDING TIME!!!!  Sniff food...walk away.  Trip mom.
5:48am - 4:30pm  sleep
4:30pm...  wait for mom at front door...when it opens...start figure 8's till she trips and yells/or picks me up.
4:37pm...  meow non-stop till I get a snack...preferrably cheese.  American cheese only please!
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm ...sleep
9pm ish....  mom is getting ready for bed...start meowing and jumping up on bed then down, then up again...snuggle.
9:30pm... run into bathroom to play in sink and drink water non-stop for 5 mins.  snuggle
9:45pm...  jump on bed give mom kiss on nose, snuggle, lay down at end of bed
9:45pm- 4:30am... wander, sleep, meow, wander some more, sleep some more, meow some more.
4:30am....  pat mom on head

Now...according to the docs...she cannot be snuggled with, lay on the bed, be near the dog or children for 2 weeks after the radiation therapy.  So, that means I have to keep her in a cage for two weeks.  She is going to meow absolutely NON-STOP.  I'm also going to miss snuggling with her.  She can really be a pain in the butt, but she's my baby.  I've had her since she was 6 weeks old...actually, 5 months longer than I've had my husband.  ;-)   The docs say this will cure her hyperthyroidism and she'll be so much better after this.  I hope so.  We'll see.

God has a wonderful sense of humor... ;-)

Before I met my husband Erik, I was in a previous marriage for almost 10 years.  No need to go into details.  I was single for 5 years before meeting Erik.  During that period of time, I had been in a few relationships and on a lot of dates.  I distinctly remember one night after another let-down relationship, I had a long talk with God.  Not just a prayer, but a long talk.  I was very specific in what I said because I know how God can take something you pray for and give it to you, but not exactly the way you meant it.  It was pretty much a one-sided conversation and I don't remember it word for word, but I can tell you the jist of it. 

"God, we need to talk.  I am asking if you can help me out because I'm kind of at my wits end.  I don't wish to be alone the rest of my life, but I don't want to make the same mistakes in the future that I made in the past.  So, here is a list of things I am looking for in a man and even if half of them fit, I would be appreciative.

1.  Sense of humor...VERY important!
2.  Nice looking, but not overly handsome.
3.  Intelligent...but not so much that he makes me look stupid.
4.  Big man...but not overly so.  Someone like maybe Moose from the Archies.
5.  oooh...maybe an ex-jock...
6.  oooooh...even better...how about a foreigner?!? (this is exactly how I remember this part)
7.  Likes country music, doesn't have to love it...just tolerate it.
8.  MUST LOVE ANIMALS!
9.  Would like similar interests like movies, books and so forth.
10.  NOT AN EX OR FORMER ALCOHOLIC OR DRUG ADDICT (been there, done it)
11.  Wants kids!
I think that about does it.  I don't think I could be too much more specific than that.  Now, I know there is a lot going on in the world and that you are extremely busy, so if you wouldn't mind sending an angel to maybe help out here...that would be wonderful.  Thank you Lord...in Jesus name I pray...Amen."

Now...about 3-4 months pass and I have pretty much forgotten the conversation/prayer.  I find this thing on the internet that helps you meet people.  I went on about four dates with four different men I had met thru the site and was about to say forget it.  Every one of them had lied about something and I had had enough.  I was about to delete my profile when I got a response from Erik who's comment on my profile and what I wanted out of life was "umm...pretty much the same here".  So, we started talking and met about two weeks or so later.  After getting to know each other and falling in love, we got married four months later.  It wasn't until a few months after we met that I was stopped in my tracks one day with the realization that God had followed my list and answered my prayer.  Just a little differently than expected.  My husband as follows:

1.  Excellent sense of humor!
2.  I consider him handsome...his nose just does something to me...gives me tingles when I look at it. 
3.  Very intelligent, but not so much so that I look like an idiot.
4.  Build...well...he was definitely as big as Moose from the Archies.  Weight was just shifted a little differently.
5.  Ex-semi-pro hockey player.
6.  NORWEGIAN (born to a norwegian father and norwegian/swedish mother in Oslo, Norway)
7.  Likes pretty much all music, tolerates country.
8.  Likes animals (except for my cat Jessie...whole story by itself).
9.  Likes same types of movies and books...same interests in camping and so forth.
10.Never did drugs and is a social drinker.
11. Wanted kids.

When I say that God has a sense of humor...I remember this.  Especially #'s 5 and 6.  Erik played semi-pro hockey most of his life and his body has paid for it.  He is Norwegian but doesn't speak the language.  Number 11...we both wanted kids, but it ended up not working out for us.  We figure there is a reason we weren't meant to have children.  We don't know the reason, but God does.  Erik isn't perfect and I wasn't asking for perfection.  God answered my prayer with what I needed...not just what I wanted. 

I love you honey and I thank God every day for bringing you into my life.

The door of happiness...

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us."  ____Helen Keller

I have heard this before, but it was mentioned on the radio this morning and it made me think.  I just wanted to share it because it is so true.  Sometimes, I think back on my life and how I would have done such and such a thing differently.  The thing is, if I had done something differently, I might never have met Erik and I would have missed out on one of the best things in my life.  I think I need to stop looking at the closed doors and keep alert for the new doors that swing open.  Life is such a rollercoaster and can be changed with one up or one down.  It's important to remember, that just like a rollercoaster, you might be down for a short time, but you will go back up.  Just keep your eye out for that open door.

Good news!!

My hubby just called with good news.  He had just come from seeing a cardiologist.  (Our doctor had seen something that was questionable and she wanted it checked out).  Anyway...all is well!  He had also been tested for P.A.D. and had an ABI test.  All is also well there.  The only thing that is not good is his A1C is still too high.  Other than that, he's healthy as can be. 
Also, I had a full physical last week and with the exception of low Vitamin D, I'm also healthy as a horse.  If it weren't for my weight (I'm fat) I'd be a perfect healthy speciman.  ;-)
My doc wants me to exercise...siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh.....I hate exercising.  I was in the Army for 4 years (long, long ago) and we had to be up and exercising every morning at 5am.  HATED IT!!  In 4 years time, never got used to it.  Dreaded it every single day.  I know part of it is a mindset....problem is, the mindset with me was I DIDN'T WANNA DO IT!!  It really is weird though...I was very active in sports...baseball expecially....bike riding, skateboarding, a little bit of basketball, so you would think I would have enjoyed exercising...NOPE...not for a second!  My bestest friend is an exercise junky.  Can't get enough of it and I think she's outta her flippin mind!  Seriously...how can you find sweating and pain fun?!?  People get a rush from it...really?!?!??!  All I feel is the thought that I'm gonna be "rushed" to the hospital.  I know, I know...I should at least get up and walk on the treadmill...but it makes such a nice coat rack.  We can hang 6-8 coats on it easily!!!  Oh well...maybe if I stare at the darn thing long enough, I might get the urge to take a little walk.  I'd rather get a root canal though.  >-{